2011-03-18

李保東發表了一項聲明以澄清形勢 Li Baodong clarifies position

Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations,Li Baodong, clarifies China's position:
"China is always against the use of force in international relations. China has serious difficulty with parts of the resolution. Meanwhile, China attaches great importance to the position of the 22-member Arab league on the establishment of a no-fly zone over Libya. We also attach great importance to the position of the African countries and the African Union.
"In view of this... China abstained from the vote on the resolution."
Could it be that the ongoing democratic process in some Arabic countries is having some effect on China? It is simpler to view this statement as an expression of the importance of Africa and the Middle East to China's economic growth.
After Japan's nuclear disaster, China might be in the middle of reconsidering the future of nuclear energy. If it wants in the long run to switch to renewable energies, it will still need to consolidate its links with countries able to supply natural resources until its economy has switched to greener resources.

Some countries might have been relieved to hear that China is "against the use of force in international relations." Now the tricky part remains to convince China that Taiwan's relations with China are ruled by international law.